Sluice gate



E. B. PHILIPS July 12, 1932.

SLUICE GATE Filed may 19, 1928 2 Sheets-sheet 1 A m. w w B.. -w m INVENoR.

ATTORNEY.

July-12, 1932. E. B. PHILIPS 1,855,817

SLUICE GATE Filed May 19; 1928 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 /PW//V B. pf//L//OS' INVENTOR.

Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED 4s'rarss PATENT OFFICE ERWIN B. PHILIPS, 0F KENTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 PHILIPS AND DAVIES, INC., 0F KENTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO SLUICE GATE Application led May 19,

My invention relates to sluice gates. It relates, particularly, to a sluice gate of the vertically reciprocable type and is particularly advantageous in that type of sluice gate which is employed as a closure for a sluiceway disposed at or near the top of a dam. This type of gate is commonly known as a crest gate.

I have provided a sluice gate of the crest type which is of such construction as to minimize the friction between the sealing surfaces of the gate and framework while practically eliminating any resistance to the downward movement of the gate with the exception of a normal buoyancy of the gate and the angular component of water pressure thereon, to- Y gether with the frictional resistance of the anti-friction means, and all resistance to the upward movement of the gate with the exception of the weight of the gate and the frictional resistance of the anti-friction means.

More specifically, I have provided a sluice gate of the vertically reciprocable crest type which moves downwardly from the top of the gate to permit accumulated water to pass through the sluice-way and wherein the sealing surfaces of the gate and its seat are in a vertical plane. At the same time, the gate and frame are so constructed that the path of travel of the gate is at an angle to the vertical. Together with the above, the skin plate of the gate, instead of being inclined similarly to the inclination of the path of travel of the gate, is vertical. The skin plate of the gate being in a vertical plane will oder no resistance to the upward or downward component of force of the water but the component which is perpendicular to the skin plate will assist in moving the rollers up their incline to close the gate.

Means have been provided on the frame in which the gate reciprocates and on the ate itself for effecting a substantially water-tight seal between the gate and the body of the dam. I have further provided 'means for limiting the upward movement of the gate and this means has been made adjustable in order that the limit of upward movement of the gate may be at that point at which there 1928. Serial No. 279,160.

is a substantially water-tight seal formed between the gate sealing surfaces and the framework sealing surfaces without unnecessary sliding friction between the respective sealing surfaces.

Other objects and numerous advantageous features of my invention may be seen in the following description and the preferred embodiment of my invention may be seen in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sluiceway and gate constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the gate alone.

With reference to the drawings, I have shown my invention in association with a dam or other retaining wall structure l which is provided with a sluice-way 2 extending therethrough at or near the top thereof. As shown, the up-stream face of the dam or other retaining wall structure l is cut away for the reception of a frame in which a sluice gate 3 is adapted to reciprocate.

This .sluice gate frame consists of vertical side sealing strips 4 whose up-stream faces form a seat for the sealing surfaces of the sluice gate 3. It also comprises strips 5 that are inclined upwardly toward the downstream side of the dam and whose up-stream faces provide a roller race or track on which the gate 3 travels in its reciprocation from closed to open position or vice versa.

The sluice gate 3 is preferably of such construction that the forces operating to open or close the gate may have the desired effectiveness and yet is suiciently wide to permit the attachment of the side plates 6 thereto. Roller race guides 7 that have the same inclination as the frame roller races or guides 5 are disposed on the outer side of each of frame. Vertical sealing surfaces 9 are provided on the down-stream side of the gate 3 and a horizontal sealing strip 10 is disposed along the bottom of the down-stream side of the gate 3 between the lower ends of the vertical sealing strips 9.

A horizontal sealing strip 11 is attached to the frame in such position as to be complemental to the horizontal gate sealing surface 10 when the gate is in such position as to close the sluice-way 2. I have mounted a vertical skin plate 12 in the gate at a point somewhat rearwardly of the sealing strips 9 and 10.

In the operation of the sluice gate 3 it will' be apparent from the drawings that the gate moves downwardly to open the sluice-wayy 2 and it will be understood that the gate is preferably of the self-opening variety, al-

- though it may be moved into open position by when it is desired to move the gate upwardly to effect closure of the sluice-way.

Therefore, I have provided attaching means 13 on the top of the side plates 6 of the gate whereby one end of respective cables 14 may be secured to the gate 3. These cables travel upwardly over idler pulleys 15 and 16 and then downwardly. To the opposite ends of the cables 14 I have attached weights 17 which are heavy enough to somewhat overbalance the weight of the gate. As shown in Figure 2, a cable 18 having one end attached to the weight 17 is adapted to be wound on a drum 19. There are preferably two weights 17 provided to effect lifting force on each side of the gate. Suitable means are provided for rotating the drum 19 to raise or lower these weights.

As previously stated, the gate 3 is reciprocable in the frame to open or close the sluiceway 2. YVith the roller races or guides 5 inclined to the vertical and the rollers 8 on the gate bearing against such roller races or guides, it will be apparent that the movement of the gate upwardly or downwardly will be at an angle to the vertical which corresponds to angle of inclination of the roller races or guides 5. At the same time, the sealing suraces of the gate and frame and the skin plate 12 of the gate are vertical. Due to the fact that a portion of the gate is disposed within the frame, the gate is restrained from lateral movement while the gate is normally forced downstream against the frame by the pressure of the water.

Since the respective sealing surfaces of the gate and its seat are vertical and the path of movement of the gate is inclined to the vertical, on downward movement of the gate the respective sealing surfaces will break contact with each other practically simultaneously with the beginning of such movement and when the gate is moved upwardly to effect closure of the sluice-way, the respective sealing surfaces will contact with each other practically simultaneously to form an effective seal. w For instance, it is known from the previous description that the sealing surfaces of the gate will approach the sealing surfaces of the frame from an angular direction and will, therefore, contact with each other with a minimum of sliding friction. In order to limit the upward movement of the gate to that point at which the sealing surfaces of the gate and frame will form a substantially water-tight seal at practically the instant of their contact, I have provided stops 20 at the top of the vertical side sealing surfaces of the frame and have made these stops adjustable as is clearly shown in Figure 1 so that the limit of upward movement of the gate 3 may be varied from time to time. Y

When it is wished to open the sluice-way 2, the drum 19 is rotated to wind the cable 18 thereon whereby the weight 17 will be moved upwardly and the gate 3 relieved of the lifting force caused by such weight. The gate 3 on being relieved of the lifting force of the weight 17 willA preferably be sufficiently heavy to move downwardly without the assistance of any additional downward force. A stop such as is shown at 2l in Figure l may be provided to limit the extent of downward movement of the gatey and itpwill be understood that this stop is at a suiicent distance below the bottom of the sluice-way 2 to permit complete opening of the sluice-way.

When it is desired to move the gate upwardly to such a'position as toeifect closing of the sluice-way 2, the drum 19 is rotated in a direetion which will permit the cable 18 to unwind therefrom and the weight 17 to move downwardly and become effective as' a lifting force on the gate 3. The vlifting force of the weight 17 while preferably being such as to move the gate upwardly without additional assistance will be assisted by the normal buoyancy of the gate and the upward component of water pressure acting parallel to the path of travel of the gate. A frictional resistance caused by the water pressure forcing the gate towards the dam is greatly lessened by the rollers v8 which bear a ainst the roller races or guides 5. It will e apparent that the gate will move upwardly until the upper edge thereof abuts against the stops 20 which, as hereinbefore described, may be adjusted to permit upward movement of the ate until a substantial water-tight seal is ormed between the vrespective sealing surfaces of the gate and the frame. A

With reference to the drawings and the preceding description, .it will be seen that I havelprovided a novel and advantageous type of sluice gate-rin that the sluice gate will move downwardly under its own weight to open the sluiceway. By providing a sluice gate which moves downwardly instead of upwardly to open the sluice-way, I have eliminated an extensive superstructure on the top of the dam thereby making it possible to construct a highway over such dam. I have also provided a sluice gate having the advantageous feature of being movable into or out of operative position with a minimum of sliding friction either between the gate and its guide or between the respective sealing surfaces of the gate and the frame.

It will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the use of my invention as a sluice gate. For instance, the embodiment of my invention might well be adjusted to any gate or closure which operates under somewhat similar conditions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A sluice gate construction comprising a framework having vertical sealing surfaces thereon, a gate having sealing surfaces thereon and movable downwardly to open position, inclined guide ways for influencing the movement of said gate into and out of closing position with relation to said framework, said guideways being so inclined as to cause said gate to reciprocate at an angle to the vertical, means for applying a lifting force to said gate to move it into closed position, said means embodying a weight heavier than the weight of said gate, and means for relieving said gate of such lifting force.

2. A sluice gate construction comprising a framework having vertical sealing surfaces thereon, a gate, guide ways on said framework for influencing the movement of said gate into and out of closing position with relation to said framework, said guide ways being inclined upwardly in a downstream direction whereby the pressure of liquid behind and beneath said gate will tend to cause said gate to travel upwardly along an inclined plane into closing position, means for applying a lifting force to said gate to move it into closed position, said means embodying a weight heavier than the weight of said gate, and means for relieving said gate of such lifting force.

In testimony whereof I hereby aix my signature.

ERWIN B. PHILIPS. 

